Can I drink alcohol while I'm pregnant?

The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends that not drinking during pregnancy is the only safe option (NHMRC 2009).
This is because we don't know for sure how much alcohol is safe for you and your baby in pregnancy. So many experts now recommend that you play it safe by steering clear of alcohol altogether (RANZCOG 2014).

The research about drinking during pregnancy suggests that the risk of birth defects is highest when a mother drinks frequently and to a high level during the first trimester of pregnancy (NHMRC 2009). The risks to your baby increase with the level of alcohol you drink (RANZCOG 2014). However, drinking at any time during pregnancy can also have effects and it is not clear how much you can drink before it has an impact on your developing baby.

Some health professionals may still give advice from older government guidelines, which said that one or two standard drinks once or twice a week is not harmful. The latest guidelines and research suggests that there is no safe of drinking during pregnancy.

Why is alcohol a problem in pregnancy?

Alcohol is a toxin. When you drink, it rapidly reaches your baby through your bloodstream and across the placenta. Too much alcohol can cause permanent damage to the cells of a developing baby. It can also cause problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriage and premature birth (BMA 2007: 2; 9).

Too much alcohol during pregnancy can change the way a baby's face, organs and brain develops. It can also affect the nervous system, which is why learning difficulties and life-long problems with movement and coordination often result (BMA 2007: 2).

The term for all these problems is fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It's called a spectrum because the problems can range from mild learning difficulties, through to birth defects.

Full blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum. Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, to be born small and to carry on being small for their age as they grow up. These children have learning difficulties, poor coordination and behavioural problems, which they have to cope with for the rest of their lives (BMA 2007:2). We do not know how many babies are born with FAS and

What evidence is there that alcohol will affect my baby?

The effect on your baby of drinking alcohol in pregnancy depends on:

how much alcohol you have

at what stage in pregnancy you drink alcohol

how often you drink alcohol

(BMA 2007: 6, RCM 2010)

Some experts think that some learning difficulties and memory problems in children may be due to their mums drinking alcohol during their last trimester (RCM 2010). This is when your baby is growing more, and his brain is developing (BMA 2007: 6).

Binge drinking can be particularly harmful. If you binge drink, you are at more risk of having a baby with FAS than if you drink the same amount over a longer period (BMA 2007: 6).

However, drinking on a regular basis may also cause problems in developing babies. Some studies have suggested that regular drinking of nine or more units spread out over a week may lead to attention problems in some children, and cause them to have a low IQ (Falgreen Eriksen et al, Underbjerg et al 2012).

What about occasional drinking in pregnancy?

Researchers don't know for sure what a few drinks over a short period early in pregnancy can do to a developing child (BMA 2007: 7). That's why the experts agree that once you've started trying for a baby or know you're pregnant, it's best to stop drinking alcohol. It hasn't been worked out what a safe level of drinking might be, or if there is a safe level.
The NHMRC recommend that you give up drinking if you are planning a pregnancy (NHMRC 2009).

Some studies have shown that light drinking isn't harmful for your baby (Kelly et al 2010, Kesmodel et al 2012, Patra et al 2011). But other studies have reported that any alcohol taken during pregnancy may be harmful(Imer 2012).

I drank before I knew I'd conceived. Will my baby be OK?

Many women have a few drinks before realising they are pregnant. Babies have a habit of turning up when they're least expected, and many babies conceived around the time of a night out drinking have been fine.

However, we don't know for sure what a few drinks over a short period early in pregnancy can do to a developing baby (BMA 2007: 7). That's why the Department of Health recommends that you give up drinking before getting pregnant (DH 2009, NHS 2012).

What can I drink instead of alcohol?

Not drinking alcohol, or cutting down on how much you drink, may be easy if nausea or sickness puts you off it in early pregnancy. But if you tend to have alcohol to help you to unwind, giving up may be harder.

Try replacing a glass of beer or wine with other stress-reduction pleasures, such as a warm bath, soft music, a beauty treatment, exercise or reading.

If you miss the ritual of drinking, switch to non-alcoholic beer or wine during your evening meal. See other ideas for non-alcoholic party drinks.

Your partner could help by giving up alcohol while you're pregnant, too.

I'm struggling to give up alcohol. What can I do?

If you're finding it hard to cut down on your own, or think you might have a drink problem, your doctor or midwife can help. They won't judge you. It's their job to help you to have a healthy pregnancy. Asking for help just shows how much you care about your baby.

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Comments

I have a little wine (maybe a third of a glass) a few times a week even in my first trimester. I have always drank wine with dinner and love it. Women have been having babies for millions of years drinking alcohol, it's fine! These days people binge drink and I definitely see the problem there. I am a scientist and have read plenty of peer reviewed studies and a small drink every now and then even in the first trimester doesn't show a statistical increase in birth defects, early births or low birth weight. I think we should all relax and enjoy our pregnancies.

I am 25 wks pregnant. Is it ok if you have a Cider every 2 or 3 weeks? I have been going through stages over my pregnancy and want (need, in my head) to have Cider then go off it. I only started drinking Cider when I fell pregnant.... I dont drink to get drunk I might have 1 or 1.5, just for the flavour.

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